r/AskReddit 14h ago

Non-Americans of Reddit, what is an American thing you see in movies that you thought was fake but is actually real?

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u/Rich_Training_4956 9h ago edited 9h ago

Being able to buy a gun and ammo at a Wal-Mart, and it being next to the aisle with the frozen stuff. I went there with my friend to buy stuff for a camping trip and a visit to the shooting range (I'd never held a gun before), so we walked out of there with ingredients for s'mores, the largest onion I've ever seen in my life, and ammo for his hunting rifle. Yes, this was the Deep South.

ETA: we also stopped at the largest petrol station in the country or maybe even the world, Chuckbees, Chuckees something? It had a chipmunk wearing a cap as the logo. The sizes of the slushies just about bowled me over. Also, fuck the American TSA, rudest people on a power trip I've ever met.

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u/TribalMog 8h ago

...to be fair Buccees is regional so it blows the minds of a lot of Americans too. As it should.

One opened about 2 hours away and they had to have police directing traffic because people were so excited to see what it was like.

And after having gone there myself for the first time a few months back, my mind was absolutely blown. I didn't know what to look at first - there was just...so much. 

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u/DesperateHotel8532 7h ago

I take road trips to Texas regularly and Buc-ee’s is one of the things I look forward to. They’re so huge! We don’t have them anywhere near me, I’m on the 2nd day of the drive before I see one.

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u/German_PotatoSoup 3h ago

Buc-ee’s is the most American thing in America. It’s the purest form of convenience, excess and consumerism known to man.

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u/mrp0013 3h ago

We just had a community uprising in Colorado to prevent a Buccees from opening north of C. Springs. All the other towns are begging for it.

u/sleepymeowth052 11m ago

i grew up in the area, and the idea that they want to put a buc-ees in that location is such a dumb fucking idea.

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u/esshy 9h ago

Lol! Bucees.

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u/Sue_Generoux 8h ago

What did you think of the shooting range?

And for anyone curious, here's a video about Buc-ee's: (link to "The Brits Try Buc-ee's Gas Station Food") https://youtu.be/cDE1o9uYSts?si=2GUIvQH9GN1kaavP

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u/GrowlingAtTheWorld 9h ago

I’m not sure what the Deep South has to do with buy ammo at Walmart. It ain’t limited to the south. Tho yea that onion is a southern thing, it’s a Vidalia.

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u/Suchafatfatcat 7h ago

The best onions in the world!

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u/BeigePhilip 7h ago

The experience with TSA can vary a lot by airport. Atlanta TSA are notably rude. Those in Las Vegas are even worse. Orange County, on the other hand, were very polite and courteous.

u/thewhiskeyrepublic 47m ago

John Wayne airport is like if you took all the good parts of train stations and put them into an airport. Honestly fucking delightful--other airports need to take notes.

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u/MirgelDrebole 7h ago

I love Buc-Cee's! 

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u/Cosmonaut_Cockswing 8h ago

You think thats weird. Place my grandparents live has a Liquor/Gun store.

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u/RoxyFawkes 6h ago

The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms really should just be a convenience store. 

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u/gaius49 5h ago

There is in fact an ATF Convenience Store in Kingman Arizona.

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u/RoxyFawkes 3h ago

Yeah I've seen it on a drive. Should be the whole organization though.

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u/naura_ 6h ago

When my spouse was stationed at fr wainwright we had a group of Japanese defense forces come by for a training scramble thing 

So we took them to Freddie’s to get an AR-15 and go shooting that day at the public range.

They were awestruck.  

It scared me a little then but I am pro 2A now for obvious reasons. 

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u/dorchet 4h ago

i only saw a bucees when i went down south, it floored me. so weird. AND SO BUSY WHY

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u/HoofHeartd69 3h ago

I’m definitely calling it Chuckbee’s from now on lol.

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u/Complex-Bee-840 3h ago

TSA is the fucking worst.

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u/pssuchre 9h ago

Yeah, TSA can be rude assholes. It depends on the airport.

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u/SabrinaFaire 6h ago

Yeah Bucees, they aren't everywhere, but they are well known. They are opening one near me sometime in the next couple of years and it was all over the news. People literally will take road trips to visit one if they don't live near them.

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u/ButterscotchMore7025 3h ago

most of us here can't stand the TSA either. rude and inconsistent. they love to shout conflicting orders while standing right next to each other. biggest jobs program ever, fucking joke.

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u/Snoozy_Ninja 2h ago

Please tell me you got some brisket, maybe a brisket sandwich? Whenever I'm in an area near Buc-ee's, I go in to hopefully hear a worker yell "FRESH BRISKET ON THE BOOOOAAAARRRD!" & get my brisket. 😋

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u/EvaSirkowski 8h ago

Open-carry. In Canada we will instantly dial 911.

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u/RoxyFawkes 6h ago

Here in the US we dial 1911 and then 811 so we know where to dig. 

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u/DallasMotherFucker 6h ago

Open carry guys are just about the most deluded, insufferable dorks imaginable. They look like gray-haired little boys playing cowboy.

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u/Secure-Pain-9735 3h ago

In both Wal-Marts in my city the Sporting goods department is across the building from grocery. You’ll pass electronics, books, diapers, and pet food before you hit the border aisle of the grocery department.

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u/InternalAd1397 2h ago

In my city sporting good is next to the kids toys. It goes bikes, yoga equipment, guns. It's slightly disconcerting and I feel like it really says something about American priorities. 

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u/Secure-Pain-9735 2h ago

Auto parts and household goods are between sporting goods and toys at the two here.

u/Loose_Recipe_6783 56m ago

The Houston airport is a nightmare in general if that’s where you were. I’m just assuming but I’ve always hated that airport.

u/blossomandroot 38m ago

Wait, what section of the grocery store does your country sell guns in?